Capture apparatus for portable electronic devices

ABSTRACT

A capture apparatus and method for safely picking up and moving a portable electronic device into a fire containment case. The apparatus includes a tray portion having a rectangular base, opposing sides orthogonal to the base, tapered rod attached to the rectangular base between the opposing sides, and slide rails attached to the opposing sides. A lid portion is also provided and includes five sides of a rectangular prism-shaped structure defining a cavity within the apparatus for holding the malfunctioning portable electronic device. The lid portion has a first handle on a first side end, a second handle on a cover portion orthogonal to the first side end, and opposing sides attached to the cover, the first side end and a second side end. The first side end and the second side end of the lid portion include slides for slidable engagement with the slide rails of the tray portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to heat and fire containment enclosures used toisolate a fire event in portable electronic equipment that may besubject to rapid intense combustion due to malfunction of the battery(typically a Li-ion battery) or charging system therefor. Morespecifically the disclosure relates to a capture apparatus for capturinga portable electronic device that has malfunctioned and begun tocombust.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

A fire containment case for use in private vehicles and on publictransportation vehicles is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,544,670 andshown in FIG. 1. The fire containment case provides a secure apparatusfor selectively receiving and securing a portable electronic device andtheir batteries in the event of malfunction and combustion of theelectronic device. The case is made of heat resistance construction tocontain and control products of combustion from the device.

Typically, such combustion is occurring on a more frequent basis aspeople as passengers carry more and more personal electronic devicessuch as cell phones, laptop computers, tablet computers, e-readers andother such devices that are powered by Li-ion batteries. Combustionevents occur when the battery experiences a condition referred to asthermal runaway which proceeds exceedingly rapidly making it difficultto move the portable device from its remote location to inside thecontainment case without endangering anyone. For example, if a batteryof a portable computer malfunctions and begins to burn on an airplane,the flight attendant may be charged with safely and quickly fighting thefire and/or moving the portable computer to the fire containment case.However, by the time the problem is noticed and the case is retrievedfrom a storage location on the plane, the portable computer may beactively burning, reaching temperatures that exceed several hundreddegrees centigrade. While the fire containment case is particularlyuseful for safely holding a portable device that may have malfunctionedand is actively burning or combusting, there is a need for an improvedapparatus for moving the portable electronic device from a remotelocation to into the containment case once the portable device isalready burning. The transfer device described in U.S. Pat. No.8,544,670 is functional, but still requires personal contact withburning portable electronic device, though with a gloved hand.Accordingly, an apparatus that can capture a portable electronic devicethat is actively burning is need for use with the fire containment case.

In view of the foregoing, an embodiment of the disclosure provides acapture apparatus and method for safely picking up and moving a portableelectronic device into a fire containment case. The apparatus includes atray portion having a rectangular base, opposing sides orthogonal to thebase, tapered rod attached to the rectangular base between the opposingsides, and slide rails attached to the opposing sides. A rectangular lidportion is provided having five sides of a rectangular prism-shapedstructure wherein an open side of the structure and the rectangular basedefine a cavity within the apparatus for holding the malfunctioningportable electronic device. The lid portion has a first handle on afirst side end thereof, a second handle on a cover portion orthogonal tothe first side end, and opposing sides attached to the cover, the firstside end and a second side end. The first side end and the second sideend further include slides for slidable engagement with the slide railsof the tray portion.

In another embodiment there is provided a method for safely approachingand picking up a malfunctioning portable electronic device and insertingthe device into a fire containment case. The method includes providing acapture apparatus having a tray portion having a rectangular base,opposing sides orthogonal to the base, tapered rod attached to therectangular base between the opposing sides, and slide rails attached tothe opposing sides. The capture apparatus also has a rectangular lidportion having five sides of a rectangular prism-shaped structurewherein an open side of the structure and the rectangular base define acavity within the apparatus for holding the malfunctioning portableelectronic device. The lid portion has a first handle on a first sideend thereof, a second handle on a cover portion orthogonal to the firstend, and opposing sides attached to the cover, the first side end and asecond side end. The first side end and the second side end furtherinclude slides for slidable engagement with the slide rails of the trayportion. During a capture operation, the lid portion is slid from aclosed position to an opened position and the portable electronic deviceis approached using the capture apparatus as a shield. The portableelectronic device is then covered with the lid portion and the trayportion is slid under the portable electronic device so that theportable electronic device is disposed within the cavity of theapparatus. Once captured with the apparatus, the capture apparatuscontaining the portable electronic device is inserted into the firecontainment case.

Yet another embodiment provides a capture apparatus for moving aportable electronic device into a fire containment case. The captureapparatus includes a slidably engaged tray and cover defining arectangular prism having a cavity therein wherein the tray includes atapered rod for lifting the portable electronic device sufficient toslide the tray under the portable electronic device.

An advantage of the method and apparatus of the disclosed embodiments isthat a malfunctioning portable electronic device can be safely capturedand disposed of in a fire containment case quickly and without having toexpose personal to burn hazards associated with grabbing the portableelectronic device by hand. The entire capture device is sized so that itfits easily into a fire containment case for disposing of the devicewith minimal exposure to fire and toxic fumes. Other features andadvantages of the disclosed embodiments may be evident from thefollowing detailed description of exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fire containment case for a capturedevice for a portable electronic device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, not to scale, of a capture apparatus for aportable electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, not to scale, of a tray portion of acapture apparatus for a portable electronic device according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, not to scale, of a lid portion of acapture apparatus for a portable electronic device according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, not to scale through section A-A ofthe apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, not to scale, of a capture apparatus for aportable electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosurein a first position for capturing an electronic device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portable computer that may be capturedby the capture apparatus of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a fire containment case 10 canbe seen for receiving a capture apparatus 12 for a portable electronicthat may be on fire. The containment case 10 has a main exterior housing14 defined of a base portion 16 and a hinge closure portion 18 havinghinge assemblies 18A. The exterior housing 14 is preferably of arectangular configuration of a known size and dimension to accommodateand receive the capture apparatus 12 for portable electronic equipmenttherewithin. An airtight sealing gasket assembly is provided and formedby the respective perimeter engagement flanges 22A and 22B of the baseand closure portions 16 and 18 and a gasket 20. A common latch system 24assures closure portion 18 retainment and secures the housing 14 withthe sealing gasket assembly.

The containment case 10 has an internal receiving case 26 formed withinthe exterior case housing 14 of the case 10 with thermal flame retardantinsulation 28 infilling between the internal receiving case 26 and theexterior housing 14. Additionally, a flame proof liner 30 surrounds areceiving chamber defined by the internal receiving case 26.

The capture apparatus 12, as best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, isgenerally of a rectangular prism-shaped configuration having an interiorcavity disposed between a rectangular tray portion 32 and a rectangularlid portion 34. The capture apparatus 12 is of an overall dimension lessthan that of the internal receiving case 26 so as to be slidablyreceived therewithin. Further important features of the captureapparatus 12 are described in more detail below.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the thermal insulation 28 for the containmentcase 10 may be of a passive static material chosen from a variety ofthermal insulation materials currently available commercially oralternately of an active thermal material. Such an active thermalinsulation material may be a phase change material based on inorganicsalts or organic waxes that absorb heat and therefore helps to maintaina safe handling temperature for containment case housing 14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the containment case 10 has a gas and fumecollection filter and retainment system 36 in communication with theinterior of the internal receiving case 26. The gas and fume system 36in this example is positioned in the insulated closure portion 18 andmay include multiple filter zones including, for example, an initialparticle filter, a gas fume filter, and an optional chemical zone filterto collect and retain dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide andcyanide that may result from the burning of synthetic resin basedmaterials during combustion. The filter system 36 vents treated gases toatmosphere from the containment case 10.

A fire suppression system 38 may be included in the closure portion 18of the case 12 for injecting water therethrough into the internalreceiving case 26, if needed to cool the contents of the case 26 and/orto suppress any fire in the case 26. As an additional alternate firesuppression venue, an alternate canister dispenser 40 of thermalinsulating fire retardant foam may be provided. The canister disperser40 of foam would be activated once the case is closed during active usein the presence of burning equipment positioned therewithin. Suchfirefighting foam is released into the respective internal receivingcase 26 to effectively control gases and temperature and extinguish thefire and is illustrated in broken lines as an alternate suppressionsystem in the closure portion 18.

The sealing gasket assembly is defined by the pair of elongatedcontoured continuous integrated engagement flanges 22A and 22B extendingrespectively about the open end edges of the base portion 16 and closureportion 18, as shown. In this example, an O-ring sealing gasket 20 isfitted within a channel in the flange 22A and provides an airtight sealbetween the base portion 16 and the closure portion 18 of the case 10when engaged and secured by the latch assembly 24. The case housing 14construction is preferably defined as aluminum or a heat resistantsynthetic resin while an interior wall or liner 30 of the internalreceiving case 26 is of preferably made of aluminum sheet material.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-6, details of the capture apparatus 12 will bedescribed. The capture apparatus 12 is configured for safely picking upand moving a portable electronic device into the fire containment case10 (FIG. 1). The tray portion 32 of the apparatus 12 is shown in detailin FIG. 3 and includes a rectangular base 50 having opposing sides 52and 54 orthogonal to the base 50, a first end 56 and a second end 58. Atapered rod 60 attached to the rectangular base 50 substantially midwaybetween the opposing sides 52 and 54 and extends between the first end56 and second end 58 of the base 50. The rod 60 has a tapered end 62adjacent the second end 60 of the base 50 for lifting a portableelectronic device off of its feet so that the tray 32 can be slid underthe device. Slide rails 64 are attached to the opposing sides 52 and 54for slidably engaging the lid portion 34. At least one stop 66 andpreferably two stops 66 are provided adjacent the send end of the base50 attached to the base 50 or side walls 52 and 54 for limiting the openmovement of the lid portion 34.

The tray portion 32 has a width W and the side walls 52 and 54 have aheight H sufficient for capturing a portable electronic device such as alap-top computer. Accordingly, the width W may range from about 30centimeters to about 60 centimeters and the height H may range fromabout 3 centimeters to about 15 centimeters and a length L may rangefrom 15 to 40 centimeters. A lid closure stop 68 may be providedadjacent the first end 56 of the base 50 for limiting the movement ofthe lid portion 34 in the closed position. The closure stop 68 may beprovided by a turned up edge of the base 50 or by individual anglebrackets attached to the base 50. A pull 70 is provided on the first end56 of the base 50 for holding the tray portion 32 stationary as the lidportion 34 is opened. In an alternative embodiment, a latching mechanism(not shown) may be used to hold the tray portion 32 and lid portion 34in a closed position after a burning portable electronic device has beencaptured by the apparatus 12.

The rectangular lid portion 34 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Thelid portion 34 is defined by five sides of a rectangular prism-shapedstructure wherein an open side of the structure and the rectangular base50 of the tray portion 32 define a cavity within the apparatus 12 forholding the portable electronic device. The lid portion 34 having afirst handle 74 on a first side end 76 thereof and a second handle 78 ona cover portion 80 orthogonal to the first side end 76. Opposing sides82 and 84 are attached to the cover 80, the first side end 76 and asecond side end 86. At least one stop 88 and preferably two stops 88 areprovided on the first side end 76 of the lid portion 34 for stoppingengagement with the stops 66 of the tray portion 32 when the lid portion34 is in a fully opened position as shown in FIG. 6

A slide mechanism 90 is attached to the opposing sides 82 and 84 forsliding engagement with the slide rails 64 on the tray portion 32. Theslide mechanism 90 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. The slidemechanism 90 may be provided by a conventional drawer slide device, suchas a ball-bearing drawer slide as shown in FIG. 5 or any other lowfriction slide mechanism. An important feature of the disclosedembodiments is that the lid portion 34 is rapidly and easily moved froman opened to a closed position and vice versa so that a portableelectronic device can be captured in as short a time as possible anddisposed of in the containment case 10. A notched opening 92 is providedin the first side end 76 of the lid portion 34 so that the lid portionmay slide over the tapered rod 60 attached to the tray portion 32.

FIG. 6 illustrates a capture position for the capture apparatus 12according to the disclosure. In the capture position, the lid portion 34is slid toward the second end 58 of the tray portion 32 using handle 78so that stop 66 on the tray portion engages stop 88 on the lid portion34. When being held by the handle 78 and the pull 70, the open captureapparatus 12 may be used as a personal shield to protect personal from aburning portable electronic device. The cover portion 80 of the lidportion 34 may also be used to close a screen 100 of a portableelectronic device such as a portable computer 110 FIG. 7. Once thescreen 100 is closed, the tray portion may be slid under the computer110 using tapered rod 60 to assist in lifting the computer 110 off ofits support feet so that the tray portion 32 can be quickly and easilyslid under the computer 110 and the capture apparatus closed with thecomputer in the cavity formed by the lid portion 34 and the tray portion32 of the apparatus 12. Once closed (FIG. 2), handle 74 may be used topick up the apparatus 12 containing the computer 110 in order to insertthe apparatus 12 into the containment case 10, described above.

The description and illustration of one or more embodiments provided inthis application are not intended to limit or restrict the scope of theinvention as claimed in any way. The embodiments, examples, and detailsprovided in this application are considered sufficient to conveypossession and enable others to make and use the best mode of claimedinvention. The claimed invention should not be construed as beinglimited to any embodiment, example, or detail provided in thisapplication. Regardless of whether shown and described in combination orseparately, the various features (both structural and methodological)are intended to be selectively included or omitted to produce anembodiment with a particular set of features. Having been provided withthe description and illustration of the present application, one skilledin the art may envision variations, modifications, and alternateembodiments falling within the spirit of the broader aspects of thegeneral inventive concept embodied in this application that do notdepart from the broader scope of the claimed invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A capture apparatus for safely picking up andmoving a portable electronic device into a fire containment case, theapparatus comprising, a tray portion having a rectangular base, opposingsides orthogonal to the base, and slide rails attached to the opposingsides; and a rectangular lid portion, the lid portion comprising fivesides of a rectangular prism-shaped structure wherein an open side ofthe structure and the rectangular base define a cavity within theapparatus for holding the malfunctioning portable electronic device, thelid portion having a first handle on a first side end thereof, a secondhandle on a cover portion orthogonal to the first side end, and opposingsides attached to the cover, the first side end and a second side end,wherein the first side end and the second side end further compriseslides for slidable engagement with the slide rails of the tray portion.2. The capture apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tapered rodattached to the rectangular base between the opposing sides.
 3. Thecapture apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tray portion comprises atleast one tray stop adjacent the second end thereof and the lid portioncomprises at least one lid stop adjacent the first end thereof forstopping engagement with the at least one tray stop.
 4. The captureapparatus of claim 1, wherein the tray portion comprises two tray stopsadjacent the send end thereof and the lid portion comprises two lidstops adjacent the first end thereof.
 5. The capture apparatus of claim1, wherein the slides comprise ball-bearing drawer slides.
 6. Thecapture apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tray portion comprises a traypull on a first end thereof for holding the tray as the lid portion ismoved.
 7. The capture apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cavity has asize sufficient to contain a portable laptop computer.
 8. The captureapparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus has a size suitable forfitting into a fire containment case.
 9. A method for safely approachingand picking up a malfuctioning portable electronic device and insertingthe device into a fire containment case, comprising: providing a captureapparatus comprising, a tray portion having a rectangular base, opposingsides orthogonal to the base, and slide rails attached to the opposingsides; and a rectangular lid portion, the lid portion comprising fivesides of a rectangular prism-shaped structure wherein an open side ofthe structure and the rectangular base define a cavity within theapparatus for holding the malfunctioning portable electronic device, thelid portion having a first handle on a first side end thereof, a secondhandle on a cover portion orthogonal to the first end, and opposingsides attached to the cover, the first side end and a second side end,wherein the first side end and the second side end further compriseslides for slidable engagement with the slide rails of the tray portion;sliding the lid portion from a closed position to an opened position;approaching the portable electronic device using the capture apparatusas a shield; covering the portable electronic device with the lidportion; sliding the tray portion under the portable electronic deviceso that the portable electronic device is disposed within the cavity ofthe apparatus; and inserting the capture apparatus containing theportable electronic device into the fire containment case.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein the capture apparatus comprises a tapered rodattached to the rectangular base between the opposing sides for use inlifting a portable electronic device off of its feet as the tray portionis slid under the device.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the trayportion comprises a tray pull on a first end thereof, further comprisingholding the tray with the tray pull as the lid portion slid from theclosed position to the opened position.
 12. The method of claim 9,further comprising using the opened lid portion of the capture apparatusto close a display portion of a portable electronic device beforesliding the tray portion under the portable electronic device.
 13. Acapture apparatus for moving a portable electronic device into a firecontainment case, the capture apparatus comprising a slidably engagedtray and cover defining a rectangular prism having a cavity thereinwherein the tray comprises a tapered rod for lifting the portableelectronic device sufficient to slide the tray under the portableelectronic device.
 14. The capture apparatus of claim 13, furthercomprising a handle on the cover and a pull tab on the tray for slidablyopening the apparatus to capture a portable electronic device.
 15. Thecapture apparatus of claim 13, further comprising stops on the tray andcover for preventing disengagement of the cover from the tray as theapparatus is slidably opened to a capture position.